The 50 hybrid delivery trucks are part of 200 new HEVs being deployed to eight U.S. cities and join the roughly 20,000 low emissions and alternative fuel vehicles already in use by UPS. The 200 new trucks will operate in Austin, Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Long Island, Minneapolis and Louisville.
The 200 HEVs are expected to cut fuel consumption by an approximate 176,000 gallons over the course of a year, compared to an equivalent fleet of conventional diesel trucks. In addition to that, the hybrids should reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by 1,786 metric tonnes.
The UPS HEVs feature a powertrain supplied by the Eathon Corporation, which combines a diesel engine with an electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack, with the diesel unit being used to recharge the battery and to deliver additional power when this is required. The vehicles feature modern solutions, such as regenerative braking. The delivery trucks use a Freightliner Custom Chassis.
„The UPS alternative fuel fleet utilizes multiple technologies, including compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, propane, electricity and hydraulic hybrid technology. These green vehicles provide the "last mile" of service to deliver packages in the most environmentally sustainable way possible. The alternative fuel fleet, however, is just one part of UPS's larger sustainability program. UPS provides its delivery services through an integrated network, meaning it uses only one vehicle to deliver all types of packages going to the same address. And unlike other competitors, UPS has developed a network that can leverage all modes of transportation from rail to truck to aircraft, optimizing package routes and improving fuel efficiency,” stated the press release.
Google News